June 01, 2011
Letters to the editor-06-01-2011
- Idaho Statesman
NATIONAL DEBT
Quit bickering, start bailingWitnessing the Republicans and Democrats endlessly bicker over the U.S. debt is analogous to watching two drunks argue over a bar bill on the Titanic.
GARY CARLSON, Boise
EDUCATION RECALL
Now, Luna turns thugSo who’s the thug now? A few months ago, Tom Luna accused Idaho Education Association members of being “thugs” and vandalizing his truck. Now, he has turned “thug” himself by sending a threatening email to all Idaho public school districts, warning employees that they’d better not be trying to recall him or overturn his three ridiculous bills on school time, on school property or using school resources. This is nothing less than bullying, a tactic students are punished for at school.
And, by the way, according to every person’s right to the First Amendment freedom of speech, Luna cannot prevent a school employee from organizing away from student contact in a teachers’ lounge during lunch or after school hours. Discouraging or preventing school employees from doing so is a direct violation of their constitutional rights. Luna better do some research before he starts throwing his weight around next time.
DALLAS FLISHER, Boise
Recall opponent resorts to political trickeryIt appears democracy has lost its way in Idaho.
We’re saddened at elements of hostility and retribution in the Tom Luna recall efforts. And I want to publicly apologize to the Boise Co-op, which was gracious enough to allow us a space to gather signatures for the petitions.
Unfortunately, an individual not associated with us went to the Co-op the day before we were scheduled to be there. This individual, who does not represent the recall organization, blocked entrances, bullying customers into signing the petition. We know we will not receive the petitions signed that day at the Co-op. This person’s aggressive and rude behavior necessitated the Boise Co-op to ask the person to leave and has created an atmosphere where the legitimate organization is no longer welcomed there.
This type of political trickery is unfortunate. While actual petition volunteers have been verbally attacked and spit on in the Boise area this past month, we have not, until this unfortunate incident, had individuals supporting the current education legislation actually engage in this type of deception.
We sincerely regret we were not more diligent in protecting our supporters from this type of behavior from a small element of the political spectrum.
HELEN AVILA, Pocatello
EDGAR STEELE
A questionable verdict destroys an entire familyAttorney Edgar Steele is known as “Attorney for the Damned” because of his defense of the world’s most politically incorrect clients. The Aryan Nations’ Richard Butler was one.
Edgar is very much politically incorrect in most all his views, but that is not a criminal offense. Or is it?
Edgar was charged with a plot to murder his wife and mother-in-law of 26 years for a life insurance payoff, and was found guilty May 5 of all four counts. A copy of this insurance contract was of course entered into evidence, right? No? It did not even exist?
The biggest part of evidence the government used to convict Edgar was audio recordings of Edgar allegedly plotting with FBI informant Larry Fairfax. To counter, the defense had not just one but two expert witnesses to testify that the tapes were phony or contrived, but the judge ruled that the expert witnesses would just “confuse” the jury and would not be allowed to testify. Huh? In the U.S.A.?
At the very least, this judge should step down and have a retrial. It is not just one life she has destroyed, but an entire family.
WESLEY EWERS, Cataldo
SUICIDE
The spiritual path to a cureWhen people have been treated cruelly for much of their lives, they wonder why. They think about how to stop the pain and even consider suicide.
They try drugs, alcohol, multiple affairs, excessive food intake or other things. The problem with these or other addictions is that they merely mask the real problem and cause others.
Counselors, MDs or even church activities can help only to some degree. Only Jesus can reveal to the person the exact root of their problem and remove it.
If you have struggled to care about yourself because of what you’ve been through, know there is one who is willing to help free you from all pain. He went to the cross to take the punishment for our sins not only so that we could be with him when we die, but also so that we could be healed now.
Allow him into that deep pain in your heart, and he will remove it. There is a way out for you, by asking Jesus for his help. You won’t then have to struggle to care about yourself, as you will then have the creator of the universe with you always.
ANN DOUPONT, Boise
ARROWROCK DAM
Overshadowed in 1932 by BuRec’s Owyhee Dam In the May 15 edition of the Idaho Statesman, Arthur Hart wrote a story about the construction of the Arrowrock Dam. There is some incorrect information in the story. It said that Arrowrock Dam, with a height of 348.6 feet, would not be surpassed in height until the completion of Hoover Dam in 1936.
In 1932, the Owyhee Dam on the Owyhee River in eastern Oregon was completed. This was a Bureau of Reclamation project, as was Arrowrock. The Owyhee Dam is 418 feet high and 833 feet wide at the crest of the dam. The reservoir behind the dam will store 715,000 acre-feet of water, and created a lake 52 miles long. As a footnote, the Owyhee Dam was the prototype for the construction of the Hoover Dam.
It is apparent that Arrowrock Dam’s fame as the highest dam came to an end in 1932.
LARRY (NIEL) HEGGE, JR., Boise
KAREN DAY
Company also deserves credit for supporting causeI was happy to see the article in the May 16 edition covering the injustice to women in Afghanistan, and Karen Day’s role in raising awareness by screening her documentary and selling T-shirts to raise money for the cause.
However, there is a story that the Statesman left out, though it was provided by Ms. Day. When she first thought of the idea to raise money through the sale of T-shirts, and contacted Marie Claire magazine, editor Joanna Coles was happy to help promote the T-shirt through the magazine, but there was one small catch: She needed one on her desk by Monday morning to meet her deadline. This was on a Friday.
Day sent Design Bandits owners Helena Kruczynska and Jason Large her Marie Claire story. At 4 a.m. the following morning, Large sent Day the design: On a white background, stark black lettering read, “Not Guilty.” By Monday morning, FedEx had delivered the T-shirt to Coles. Design Bandits designed the shirt and is printing the T-shirts at cost because the company is passionate about the cause. It seems as if it should be recognized for its effort as well.
MARILYN LARGE, Boise
